Shortly after 2:30 P.M. on February 9, 2011, the now defunct Web site Gawker published an article about Christopher Lee, a Republican congressman from western New York State. In response to a Craigslist personals ad, which was posted by a thirty-four-year-old government employee from Maryland, Lee had described himself, by e-mail, as a very fit fun classy guy, lied about being divorced (he was married, with one child), shaved seven years off his age (he was forty-six but said that he was thirty-nine), and sent a photo of himself shirtless and coquettishly flexing a bicep. Even Gawker conceded that Lees actions had been relatively banal. Yet, by 6:13 P.M. that same day, Lee had resigned from his seat in the House of Representatives. I regret the harm that my actions have caused my family, my staff and my constituents, he said in a statement. I deeply and sincerely apologize to them all.
A special election was soon held to fill Lees seat in Congress. Kathy Hochul, a Democratic county clerk from Erie County, won an upset victory. (When she was in the auto bureau in Buffalo, she did a lot with the license plates, one voter told the Times.) Hochul served an unmemorable half-term in the House, failed to win relection, and bounced into an executive job at M&T Bank Corporation. The stint in Washington raised her profile such that, in 2014, she was tapped to be Governor Andrew Cuomos running mate in his first bid for relection. As the lieutenant governor of New York, she is second in line to Cuomo, who now faces a number of accusations, includingbut not limited tounwanted groping and kissing of aides, the suppression of data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, and using state employees to help write a triumphalist and personally lucrative book about his pandemic response. If Cuomo were to resign, Hochul would become the governor. The story of her political ascent would rank among the most unlikely in state history.
But despite calls from fellow-Democrats in Congress and the New York State legislature for Cuomo to step down, and multiple state and federal investigations into his and his administrations actions, the Governor is not resigning. After a decade as the most powerful figure in the state, he has treated the overlapping scandals hes facing as yet another challenge placed in front of him, not so different from a tax-revenue shortfall or a hurricane. And, in the past few weeks, as hes negotiated a budget with the legislature and minimized his interactions with the press, hes given every sign of being ready to put this unpleasantness behind him. The nature of being Governor, Cuomo said recently, is there are always multiple situations to deal with.
In the decade between Lees resignation and Cuomos current situation, what counts as a career-ending scandal in American politics has been redefined. Donald Trump, of course, survived an entire term as President despite being accused of sexual assault and of using the Presidency to enrich himself, not to mention having several close aides go to prison on a variety of corruption chargesand being impeached twice, the second time on the ground that he incited an insurrectionist mob to storm the Capitol. But it wasnt just Trump. In 2015, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a Democrat, was indicted on federal bribery and other corruption charges for allegedly using his office to enrich a good friend and donor. Menendez waited out several years of legal proceedingshis charges were eventually dismissedand remains in the Senate, where he chairs the Foreign Relations Committee. In 2019, an old photograph from Virginia Governor Ralph Northams medical-school yearbook surfaced, showing two men, one in blackface, the other wearing Ku Klux Klan robes. Northam, a Democrat, apologized, then retracted his apology and denied that it was he in the photo. Then he simply stuck things out. Meanwhile, before the public furor about the photo had even subsided, his lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, was accused of sexual assault. Fairfax denied the accusations. Both Northam and Fairfax remain in their respective offices. Fairfax is currently running for governor.
In the past few weeks, as revelations about Cuomo were still emerging in the New York media, news broke that Matt Gaetz, a Florida congressman and staunch Trumpist, was being investigated by the F.B.I. for potentially violating sex-trafficking laws. Gaetz has not resigned, either. I may be a canceled man in some corners.... But I hear the millions of Americans who feel forgotten, canceled, ignored, marginalized and targeted, he tweeted last weekend, achieving new heights in the rhetoric of never resigning. I draw confidence knowing that the silent majority is growing louder every day.
When Cuomo was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, his boss, Bill Clinton, refused to resign after being impeached for lying about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. But that was a different era, and, according to recent reports, Cuomo considers Northam a more useful model. In Virginia, where the governorship is closely contested, Northam hung on after polls showed that Black voters in the state were sticking with him. In recent weeks, Cuomo has held public events with prominent Black community and political leaders. Early on, his situation was also compared with that of Al Franken, the former Minnesota senator who resigned after several women came forward in 2017, saying that hed touched them inappropriately in public. In 2019, The New Yorkers Jane Mayer reinvestigated the Franken case and found that many of the Democratic senators who called for Franken to resign now regret doing so.
One lesson of the Franken case is that there are different degrees of allegations. Many Democrats remember Franken simply as an example of the risk of resigning too early. But, in 2017, many also saw Frankens resignation serving a larger purpose: it preserved both the momentum of the nascent #MeToo movement and the Democratic Partys authority to speak about the issues that the movement highlighted. And, although Frankens friends and former colleagues in the Senate may now regret how they treated him, how many of his former constituents in Minnesota have noticed the difference between having Franken and his replacement, Tina Smith, in the Senate? In Virginia, meanwhile, it was said that the threat of a Republican takeover of power in the state kept Democrats from bailing on Northam. Such a threat does not exist in the same way in New York. The political context of the Cuomo case is more like Frankens, but the allegations against him are much more damning.
For years, Cuomo was often described as someone who knew how to push every button and pull every lever of power. More recent reports have revealed that button-pushing and lever-pulling were often euphemisms for getting on the phone and yelling at people. Yet Cuomo continues to hold himself out as New Yorks indispensable man, even as he bowed to many of his more progressive antagonists priorities on the budget deal he agreed to at the beginning of April. The scandals have even bled into Cuomos previously vaunted pandemic response. Restaurant workers in New York took to joking that every time a woman came forward and accused Cuomo of misconduct, the Governor would raise the indoor-dining-capacity limit by five per cent. County officials reported getting calls from a close Cuomo aide who was in charge of vaccine distribution, checking in about their loyalty to the boss.
Cuomo has dismissed the idea of resigning as anti-democratic. But why? Apart from a tie-breaking vote in the state Senate, pretty much the only responsibility the New York state constitution gives to the lieutenant governor is to step into the role of governor in the event of the removal of the governor from office or of his or her death or resignation. In other words, the job was designed to provide a democratic remedy for the Governors resignation. Cuomoin a way not so different from Gaetz invoking his silent majorityis suggesting that, as long as the people are still with him, he need not resign. The latest polling shows that fifty-three per cent of New Yorkers still approve of the job hes doing. But public support is not a defense against accusationsits closer to a justification. And many politicians who have made this kind of argument in recent years surely realize that, for their own sake if no one elses, never resigning is often the best path out of a scandal.
New York now seems destined for at least several more months of political uncertainty, as the facts of Cuomos various scandals are weighed against the interests of different state actors and power centers. Just a few weeks ago, news coverage about Cuomo couldnt help mention that March 12th was the thirteenth anniversary of the resignation of one of Coumos predecessors, Eliot Spitzer. Spitzerwho shared Cuomos reputation for self-regard and relentlessnessresigned after the revelation that hed been hiring prostitutes. Resigning wasnt some noble act. His performance of it, standing at a lectern beside his wife, was so fraught that it partly inspired the long-running television drama The Good Wife. Christopher Lees apology statement, for all we know, was written by a staff member. But they were responding to what they believed the moment demanded. They made no special plea about the will of the voters. (How many New Yorkers complained that Spitzers resignation was anti-democratic?) They were living in a different political reality. If we were still living in it, wed already be talking about Governor Kathy Hochul.
Continue reading here:
Andrew Cuomo, Matt Gaetz, and the New Never Resign School of Politics - The New Yorker
- Christopher Lee Was Furious About This 'Lord of the Rings' Moment - Collider - April 2nd, 2024
- Airdate: The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee - TV Tonight - April 2nd, 2024
- Christopher Lee's casual shorts and slippers outfit in Taiwan made heads turn - TODAY - March 16th, 2024
- Christopher Lee Dead: Horror Icon and Legendary Movie Villain Was 93 ... - February 19th, 2024
- "Chris wasn't hearing a bar of it": Christopher Lee Forcefully Auditioned For Another Lord of the Rings Character Before ... - FandomWire - February 11th, 2024
- 'Cancel everything': How Christopher Lee disciplines his son with this one phrase - Yahoo Singapore News - February 3rd, 2024
- Actress Fann Wong surprised by husband Christopher Lee on birthday - The Straits Times - February 3rd, 2024
- Fann Wong surprised by husband Christopher Lee on birthday - The New Paper - February 3rd, 2024
- Christopher Lee: The actor and hunter of Nazi war criminals - Far Out Magazine - January 9th, 2024
- Sir Christopher Lee's Favorite Performance is in a Film You've Never Heard Of - MovieWeb - December 12th, 2023
- Christopher Lee dies at the age of 93 - The Guardian - April 27th, 2023
- Christopher Lee - Tolkien Gateway - March 31st, 2023
- Christopher Lee filmography - Wikipedia - February 10th, 2023
- Where to Start with Christopher Lee - The Film Magazine - October 19th, 2022
- 'Were you desperate to get proposed to?' Christopher Lee crashes Rebecca Lim's new show and roasts her while dishing out relationship advice - AsiaOne - October 19th, 2022
- The Wicker Man TV Series In Development With Andy Serkis The Imaginarium And Studiocanal-Backed Urban Myth - Deadline - October 19th, 2022
- Tim Burton names his five favourite horror movies of all time - Far Out Magazine - October 19th, 2022
- Ten celebrities who served in the military, from Adam Driver to Prince Harry - The National - October 19th, 2022
- These 13 Actors Have Earned the Right to be Called Scream Kings - Dread Central - October 19th, 2022
- David W. Smith | Obituaries | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online - October 19th, 2022
- Jennifer Hudson Recounts "Fanning Out" Over Duet With Sheryl Lee Ralph: "I Wanted to Make Her Proud" - POPSUGAR - October 19th, 2022
- Tangipahoa Parish Jail - October 11th, 2022
- A monster calls: why the horror universe is an idea whose time has come - The Guardian - October 11th, 2022
- Oblong Box, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits - October 11th, 2022
- Was that the balrog that killed Gandalf in the Rings of Power? - Polygon - October 11th, 2022
- Every James Bond movie ranked by critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes - Insider - October 11th, 2022
- Overwatch 2: All Voice Actors And Cast - eXputer - October 11th, 2022
- She got Covid-19 four times this year alone - The Star Online - October 11th, 2022
- Nursing School Collaborates with Nursing School in The Philippines - Boston College - October 2nd, 2022
- The Terrifying, Terrific Horror Movies of 1972 - Nerdist - October 2nd, 2022
- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: A beautiful conclusion to the iconic trilogy - The Shield - October 2nd, 2022
- Tyson Fury through the years: Photo gallery - MMA Junkie - October 2nd, 2022
- Duncan man jailed, accused of madness on meth - The Lawton Constitution - September 24th, 2022
- Conor McGregor "can't believe" he's being paid to film Hollywood movie - The Mirror - September 24th, 2022
- The Government of Malaysia Launches the National Energy Policy 2022 - 2040: What it Means for the Renewables Landscape - Lexology - September 24th, 2022
- New Brockton native Brandon Lee part of team cherishing NASCAR win at Bristol - Dothan Eagle - September 24th, 2022
- Cape Cod theater reviewers' thoughts on 2 scary plays and a comedy - Cape Cod Times - September 24th, 2022
- 'His presence is going to be there': Lee Roy Selmon will attend in spirit as trio of OU brothers honored with statue - The Oklahoma Daily - September 24th, 2022
- Nicolas Cage inspired by Christopher Lee for vampire movie Renfield - The Digital Fix - September 16th, 2022
- Reece Shearsmith Tells Richard Herring About Christopher Lee - Beyond The Joke - September 16th, 2022
- 8 Horror Movies So Awful They Were Pulled From The Cinema - WhatCulture - September 16th, 2022
- Man-Thing Makes his MCU Debut in Werewolf by Night - Here's what we know about Man-Thing - Attack of the Fanboy - September 16th, 2022
- Summer of Blood (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits - September 16th, 2022
- Get it over with: Suspect in Kokomo child exploitation case tells police to arrest him on the spot - FOX 59 Indianapolis - September 16th, 2022
- Alabama says it won't be ready to use nitrogen hypoxia method at Sept. 22 execution - USA TODAY - September 16th, 2022
- Christopher Lee, The Real-Life "Most Interesting Man In The World" - August 31st, 2022
- Inside The Fact And Fiction Of Christopher Lee's World War II Service - August 31st, 2022
- How to watch The Lord of the Rings movies and the series in chronological order - Lifestyle Asia India - August 31st, 2022
- Court and arrest reports for Martinsville and Henry County - Martinsville Bulletin - August 31st, 2022
- Every Tim Burton Movie Ranked from Worst to Best - Consequence - August 31st, 2022
- Court lists defendants to appear in Criminal Division on Thursday - Magnoliareporter - August 31st, 2022
- Lee County School Board makes minor revision to Parents' Bill of Rights - Wink News - August 31st, 2022
- A Cardiologist Breaks Down the AHA's New Report on the Most Common Heart Disease Symptoms Best Life - Best Life - August 31st, 2022
- Exclusive Interview: Director Philippe Mora On His Films With Christopher Lee - FANGORIA - August 14th, 2022
- 10 films turning 10 in 2022 - NewsNation Now - August 14th, 2022
- Persephone and the Poultry of the Night | Thumper Forge - Patheos - August 14th, 2022
- Unexpected Demands Made By Lord Of The Rings Actors - Looper - August 14th, 2022
- Rings of Power: Everything you need to know about Amazon's 1bn Lord of the Rings prequel - The Mirror - August 14th, 2022
- Slash Tells Us Why There Will Never Be a Guns N Roses Movie - MovieMaker Magazine - August 6th, 2022
- On the record for Aug. 4 - Seymour Tribune - August 6th, 2022
- Judge Talley will hear criminal docket on Thursday - Magnoliareporter - August 6th, 2022
- Dr. Christopher Reber Receives ACCT 2022 Northeast Regional Chief Executive Officer Award - The Hudson Reporter - August 6th, 2022
- Theatre Review: This 101 Dalmatians is barking up the wrong tree - The New European - August 6th, 2022
- Christopher Lee Euro Films, Dennis Hopper's 'Out of the Blue' Among Titles Due on Disc From Severin and MVD July 26 Media Play News - Media Play News - July 28th, 2022
- 25 Scariest Movies of All Time (2022 Edition) - Cultured Vultures - July 28th, 2022
- Fans Wonder Why a Fantasy Epic Too Big to Fail Did Just That - We Got This Covered - July 28th, 2022
- The Best Witch Movies of all Time, Ranked - The Mary Sue - July 28th, 2022
- NASCAR Driver Christopher Bell and CRAFTSMAN Raise Awareness for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals; No. 20 Special Edition Paint Scheme to be... - July 28th, 2022
- Singer Stefanie Sun turns 44 with cakes and loved ones - The Straits Times - July 28th, 2022
- Tony Dow dead: Wally Cleaver 'Leave It to Beaver' actor was 77 - USA TODAY - July 28th, 2022
- Roane Co. authorities looking for man convicted of neglecting and murdering an elderly relative - WBIR.com - July 20th, 2022
- 22 Incredible Facts About The Life and Career Of Sir Christopher Lee - July 20th, 2022
- Police and Fire Report - Winchester Sun - Winchester Sun - July 20th, 2022
- What We Do in the Shadows cast shares their favorite vampire movies, books, and more - Polygon - July 20th, 2022
- Courteney Cox Set To Make Horror Movie History With 'Scream 6' - We Got This Covered - July 20th, 2022
- Every James Bond Movie, Ranked: The Best of Bond - CNET - July 20th, 2022
- Grandparents of Dean Kerrie say he was just defending his mother and should not be jailed - Sunday World - July 20th, 2022
- Ray Wise Has Always Been More Than "That Guy" - Defector - July 20th, 2022
- Angela Ledgerwood on the Psychic Relief of Reading - Literary Hub - July 20th, 2022
- Athens man charged with manslaughter in fatal hit and run - News Courier - July 12th, 2022
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero